World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

MALAYSIAlogarithmically transformed egg collection data (Table 116) showed that from1965 until 1985 the egg yield declined by an average of 3.4% a year(r = 0.737, 19 d.f.).Domestic trade The main centre for trade in turtle eggs is Sandakan,where there is said to be an "insatiable" demand (de Silva, 1984). Sincethe closure of the Turtle Islands to turtle collectors in 1972, the demandhas largely been supplied by eggs imported from islands under Philippinesovereignty. The price of eggs in Sandakan is shown in Table 118. It canbe seen that there was a marked jump in the price in 1972 when thecollection of eggs in the Turtle Islands was prohibited. Eggs are also soldin Kota Belud, where they fluctuate in price from US$0.15 in the season toUS$0.25 in the off-season. The coastal people around Kota Belud also sellsome turtle meat locally, and barter the carapace, plastron and flipperswith Filipino traders (de Silva, 1984). There are small quantities ofstuffed turtles and turtle shell sold in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Sandakan,most of which have been smuggled in from the Philippines (de Silva, 1984).Table 118. The price of Turtle eggs in Sandakan (Malaysian cents per egg,M$2 = US$1 approximately, de Silva, 1984).1968 1969 1979 1971 1972 1977 198210 11 11 40 45 50International trade Although there was some trade with itineranttraders, de Silva (1982) indicated that the commercial sector had not becomeinvolved in the export of turtle products from Sabah. Legislationprohibiting the import of turtle shell, skin, calipee and oil was introducedin 1971, since when it is said to have been effective (de Silva, 1982).Until 1977, Sabah reported imports, exports and re-exports of unworkedtortoiseshell and turtle eggs in its Customs statistics. These are given inTables 119 and 120. Table 119 indicates that Sabah appears to have featuredas a major entrepot for international trade in tortoiseshell, but it is notknown what species of chelonian were involved. Further information of theimports of tortoiseshell from Malaysia is given in the section for WestMalaysia.Trade in turtle eggs is permitted under local legislation, and the localdemand is met by imports of eggs from the Philippines (de Silva, 1984, seeabove), in spite of the fact that this is in contravention of CITES.Table 120 also indicates that Sabah has been active in the internationaltrade in turtle eggs, importing them mostly from the Philippines andexporting a few, mainly to Brunei.LEGISLATIONFauna Conservation Ordinance, 1963 (28 June 1963).All Cheloniidae are partially protected. National and internationaltrade in the species C. mydas and E. imbricata is regulated. The huntingof these species is permitted only under licence and the taking of eggsis controlled. Natives may collect eggs in specified areas withoutlicences. Other areas may be designated as "Turtle farms", whereexclusive rights to collect eggs are granted.311